Bert Beagle was a colorful character in my childhood. He was a rooster fighter and breeder for the famed Galveston millionaire, W.A. Kelso. A fiddle player for the dance halls, a gambler and carouser Bert came to Jesus under my Father. Many wonderful hours were spent in his home in La Marque, Texas. College Professor, Artist, Fiddle player, Singer and Airplane builder were just a few of his wonderful talents. When my Father moved us all and I mean all, employees and all to Mississippi to Pentecostal Bible Institute, Bert was in the mix. I grew up with Him as close as an uncle. As a boy, I would run home from school to go to Bert's house because it was always exciting and full of adventure. I flew with him in his plane. Visited him many times in his Louisiana hideaway. Watched with awe as he painted for famous folks dramatic oil portraits. But I lost contact with him never knowing he had written a book. While in our charity warehouses fumbling through some books in a box of donations I found a brightly colored book entitled, "Meet the Most Important Person In The World, Yourself!" It was a one off printing. I believe the short essays need to be shared and that in his death readers worldwide would enjoy the man I once knew!
You are about to be introduced to the most important person in the entire world. I want you, this very moment, to find yourself a mirror and look therein. Whether you have realized this great truth before or not, you are looking into the face of the most important person in the whole world, yourself!
This is one of the greatest secrets in the world! Why do I call it a secret? Because so few people realize it , and believe it! But the think this title would make them a selfish, self centered person. The real truth is that we must realize this great truth before we can life life to its fullest, and do our best for the rest of humanity.
The greatest authority that ever lived, Jesus Christ, taught this great truth. He taught that two greatest commandments were first of all, " And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." And secondly, " Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus also taught that our neighbor is every man. Note carefully that we must love others as ourselves.
For others to be important in our lives, we must first feel important. If we are to live life to its fullest, and be of value to humanity, it must first begin with ourselves. Each of us must come face to face with this great truth, that we are the most important person n the world. When this knowledge floods your mind, you will discover a new person filling your shoes, yourself. When we understand the meaning of the word love, we have made our first step forward.
This word is one of the most misunderstood words in all languages. Our Bible teaches us that God is love, so love is supreme good. Love is letting God work in us. It is understanding, and giving ourselves to noble causes, with a sincere desire to help the progress of the human race. Love is the magnet that draws souls together, and keeps them together.
We read in Romans 13:8, "Owe no man anything , but love one another; for he that loveth another has fulfilled the law." So love is what it is all about, love heads the list. We read in Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." The Apostle Paul prayed, " And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment." Let us let love abound in our lives. Cultivate this great gift of God, and you will find that great power will come into your life. You will find out just how important a person you are!
